Regional Advocacy for the Murray-Darling Basin Plan Review:

RDA Loddon Mallee (LM) played a leading role in advocating for Basin communities during the Australian Government's Murray-Darling Basin Plan Review (the Review), ensuring the social and economic impacts of water recovery measures were considered alongside environmental objectives. Recognising the significance of the Review for regional communities, industries and local economies, RDA LM worked to provide an evidence-based regional voice that reflected the lived experiences and future aspirations of Basin communities.

As part of this work, RDA LM contributed funding towards the independent Frontier Economics report, entitled Economic Issues Relevant to the Basin Plan Review, which examined the socio-economic implications of water recovery measures, Murray-Darling Basin Authority modelling scenarios and the use of environmental water. The report provided a robust evidence base to support regional advocacy and inform submissions to the Review.

To ensure regional perspectives were well represented, RDA LM coordinated a comprehensive stakeholder engagement program. This included briefing sessions for RDA committees; Regional Partnerships; Local Government representatives; and industry stakeholders. It also provided opportunities for participants to hear directly from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority; the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action; and the Murray River Group of Councils. Further industry-focused engagement helped raise awareness of the Review and encouraged participation from businesses and sectors likely to be affected by future policy decisions.

Drawing on stakeholder feedback and the Frontier Economics analysis, RDA LM worked with the Loddon Campaspe and Mallee Regional Partnerships Advisory Groups to prepare a joint regional submission to the Review. Key recommendations included ending non-strategic water buybacks; recognising the cumulative impacts of water reform on regional communities; establishing a permanent Basin Community and Industry Transition Fund; and improving transparency around social, economic and environmental outcomes. Through this work, RDA LM helped ensure that the interests of Basin communities were effectively represented in a nationally significant policy process, strengthening advocacy for sustainable and prosperous regional economies.